Scow



Jan. 18,1927,

J. R. WILSON SCOW Filed July 16, 1926 RN Q un 12::

WN QN Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN R, WILSON, or cuiiminen, MARYLAND.

SCOW.

Application filed July 16,

This invention relates to improvements in scows and pertains more particularly to a scow adapted for transporting sand or gravel and constructed in such a manner as to permit easy and rapid discharge or unloading of the scow.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved form of scow by means of which its cargo can be more rapidly and lo easily unloaded than in the ordinary form of scow.

A further object of the invention isto construct a scow having a center well carrying a suction pipe, and water inlet valves by means of which the cargo can first be mixed with water and then the -mixture pumped out, thus effecting an unloading of the cargo.

A further object of the invention is the particular construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, whereby the scow is particularly adapted for the purpose described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the scow, a portion of the scow being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the valves carried by the discharge suction pipe.

Describing the invention in detail, reference being had to the drawings, in which like parts are designated by similar reference numerals throughout the description, A designates a scow, the exterior form and construction of which is common and wellknown in the art. Adjacent the ends of the scow there are provided vertical water-tight bulk-heads 5, which extend fronrthe bottom 6 of the scow to a point above the scow decking 7, forming at either end of the scow air-compartments 8. Positioned centrally of the scow and in' spaced parallel re lation are two vertical walls 9 and 10, which have their support at their ends in the vertical bulk-heads 5. The upper ends of these vertical walls arefiush' with the upper ends of the bulk-heads 5, while theirlower. ends stop considerably short of the bottom of the 1926. Serial No. 122,872.

scow and are tapered as clearly appears at 11. The scow is provided with a false bottom 12, which slants upwardly from either side of the bottom of the scow, appears in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The false bottom 12, at its lower ends is supported upon longitudinal beams 13, and the con-. struction is such that the spaces 14 and 15, at either side of the scow, are water-tight thereby constituting air spaces which extend the entire length of the hold of the scow.

From the construction just defined, it will be seen that the walls '9 and 10, taken together with thebeams 13, constitute a central well 16, which extends the entire length of thescow hold and that communication is had between the hold at either side of the well by reason of the vertical walls stopping short of the false bottom which leaves the openings 17 in the well. The openings 17 extend the entire length of the scow hold.

The scow is provided with side decking 18 and walk or run-ways 19 are provided at each side of the vertical walls 9 and 10. The loading of the scow is effected through the openings 20, between the side decking 18 and the walk-ways 19.

Positioned in the bottom of the center well 16, at a point just above the scow bottom 6, is a suction pipe 21, which isprovided centrally of its length with a vertical connection 22, which extends upwardly out of the well and is adapted for connection by reason of a hose 23, or the like with a pump 24 positioned on the shore, or at any convenient point upon the wharf. The horizontal suction pipe 21 is provided at a plurality of points throughout its length with valves 25, which are controlled from the deck of the scow through the medium of upwardly'extending valve rods 26.

.The valves 25 are T-shaped pipe sections adapted to be rotated around the suction pipe 21. The suction pipe 21 is provided with an opening 27, and it' will be seen that by rotating thevalve's 25 through the medium of the valve rods that the extending T-shaped portion 28 of the valve's'can as clearly be positioned so as to register with the opening 27 in the suction pipe, thereby opening communication with the suction )1 e. 1 231 the points beyond the ends of the suction pipe 21 there are sea-cocks 29, which are provided with gate valves 80, provided with upwardly extending operating valve rods 31. 1

Assuming that the scow is loaded with sand or gravel and has been brought to the wharf for unloading, it will be seen that the well can be flooded or drilled by opening the sea-cock valves 30. Connection between the suction pipe and the suction pump is then made and the cargo is pumped out. By reason of the valves 25, the discharge of the cargo can be started from any point of the scow-hold, or if desired, all the valves .can be opened so as to unload the scow evenly. By reason of the slanting false bottom of the scow the sand or gravel will be automatically fed to the center well where it will mix with water which has entered through the sea-cocks 29.

' By reason of air spaces or chambers 8, 14L and 15, there is no danger of sinking the scow by permitting the inlet of water to flood or mix the cargo.

By reason of the plurality of valves car ried by the suction pipe, the scow can be unloaded at both ends and the center at the same time, or the cargo can be taken from any portion of the scow-hold, as desired.

Attention is directed to the fact that this scow can also be used for carrying a deck load, if desired, by simply covering the loading openings 20, at either side of the center well.

Should the suction inlet valves, for any reason become clogged, they can be easily and readily cleaned by entering the center well.

The present construction has a decided advantage in that it is not necessary to flood or float the entire cargo to effect an unloading. With the hopper-shaped bottom, the cargo is automatically fed to the well under the beveled lower ends of the vertical well walls and the material in the spaces 17 act as a seal between the center well and the cargo compartments at either side there of. When the sea-cocks are opened the center well is flooded thus mixing the portion'of the cargo which is in the sump or bottom of the center well. As the cargo is removed through the suction pipe the cargo at either side of the center well is fed automatically to the center well and suction pipe and is mixed with the water in-the center well, whereby it is in suitable condition to be discharged through the suction pipe.

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In a sand scow, a well, dividing the cargo hold centrally throughout its length, said hold provided with a bottom slanting upwardly from said well, said bottom terminating at its lower ends at a point above the scow bottom to form a sump, communication between the well and the two cargocompartments at a point above said sump, a suction pipe extending throughout the length of the sump, a plurality of inlet valves for said .of the scow for operating said valves and means to flood said sump and center well, whereby the cargo can be pumped from the scow.

3. Ascow having-a cargo hold divided longitudinally by a pair of vertically extending walls in separated or parallel relation, said walls forming between them a center well, the hold at either side of the well provided with an upwardly extending bottom, communication between the hold sections and the well throughout the length of the-sections, a suction pipe in the well, valves for said suction pipe operable from the deck of the scow and means to flood said well with water, wherebythe cargo can be pumped from the scow. i r

L'In a scow having a cargo hold with a hopper-shaped bottom, a center well ex tending centrally throughout the length of the hold and dividing it into two sections, communication between the well and the hold sections throughout the length of both, a suction pipe in said well, said pipe extending throughout its length and provided with. a

plurality of valves adapted to be operated from the deck of the scow, and means to flood the well with water, whereby the cargo can be pumpedout through said suction pipe. I p

5. A sand scow having a center well, cargo compartments at each sidethereof provided with slanting bottoms towards said well, a suction pipe in said well at a point below said compartment bottoms, communication between said compartments and said well at a, point above said suction pipe, valves for said pipe operable from the deck of the scow,

and means to flood said well with water, whereby the cargo can be pumped outward through said suction pipe,

m. Millw- 6. A sand scow having a cargo hold, said in said well, and means to flood said well cargo hold provided centrally with a vertiand the portion of the cargo in the well, cal well dividing the hold into two comwhereby the same can be discharged from the 10 partments, communication adjacent the botwell.

5 tom of the well with the two cargo com- In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my partments, means to feed the cargo into the signature. bottom of said well, a suction discharge pipe JOHN R. \VILSON. 

